Airfield vs. airstrip: what’s the difference?
The short answer
An airfield is a more general term that can refer to any area where aircraft operate, possibly including runways, buildings, and other facilities. An airstrip is typically a simpler, more basic runway, often with minimal infrastructure.
What they have in common
Both terms refer to places used for aircraft takeoff and landing.
Examples
airfield
- The military has a large airfield outside the city.
- Planes are kept in the hangars at the airfield.
- The airfield was busy with several flights arriving and departing.
airstrip
- The small plane landed on a remote airstrip.
- The airstrip was little more than a paved path through the jungle.
- Bush pilots often use makeshift airstrips in rural areas.
Which one is more common?
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